Eight more months for Dutch troops in Iraq

THE HAGUE (AFP) Jun 11, 2004
The Dutch cabinet on Friday extended the mandate of the more than 1,300 Dutch troops stationed in Iraq for a further eight months, until early 2005, the government said.

"The government has decided today to extend the Dutch military contribution to the multinational forces in Iraq for a period of eight months, from mid-July 2004 to mid-March 2005," a statement said.

"This period has been chosen so that Dutch troops can continue to contribute to stability in Iraq up to and after the elections to be held in January 2005."

The decision to extend the mandate came three days after the 15-member UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution on the handover of power to Iraqis after June 30.

The Dutch news agency ANP said the Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot and Defence Minister Henk Kamp had informed the parliament of the government's decision in a letter Friday.

Formally the government's decision can be taken without consulting the parliament, foreign ministry spokesman Bart Jochems told AFP.

However the government is to discuss the proposal in parliament to try to get broad support for the mission. A possible parliamentary vote is expected to be a mere formality as the parties in the ruling coalition, who hold a majority in parliament, have already pledged their support.

The Netherlands has around 1,300 soldiers stationed in southern Iraq, under British command.

WAR.WIRE